PORT EYNON COMMUNITY COUNCIL

 

DRAFT – UNCONFIRMED

 

Minutes of Monthly Council Meeting held on

 Monday 19^th June 2017 at the Village Hall, Port Eynon.

 

The meeting commenced at 7:30 pm,

Present:                                   Cllr. G. Evans, Cllr. R. Fisher, Cllr. Mrs. S. Fisher, ,Cllr. G. Jones

 

 

Apologies for Absence:         Cllr. S. Young

 

In attendance:                       Mr B Stubbings (Clerk);

Mr. Robert Davies, Mr. Andrew Griffiths, Mr. Martin Sykes, Mr. Nigel Clarke,  Mr.Stephen T…. (all residents of Knelston)

 

Chair person:                          Cllr. R. Fisher took the Chair.

Declarations of Interest:         None

The Chair welcomed the members of the public in attendance, who wished to make representations to the Council concerning planning application for residential development at ‘Dinglebank’ in Knelston. Council agreed to take this item in advance of the published meeting Agenda.

Council heard that plans for development of three houses to the rear of the detached house ‘Dinglebank’ had been placed on the C&CS web site on 6^th June and that site notices had been displayed since on or around 13^th June. Residents advised that there had been no prior consultation with the neighbouring properties. Considerable concerns were expressed that the development was not appropriate in the context of the village; that Trumpet Lane was inadequate to provide access to the development; that the junction of Trumpet Lane with the A4118 was inadequate and unsafe; that the development would create a dominant feature on the skyline; etc.

Council was sympathetic to the concerns raised but stressed that these concerns should be incorporated in letters of objection to C&CS Planning Section. Council would consider the application as part of its routine business and would be making their own recommendation to C&CS.

The residents thanked the Council for listening to their concerns and for the advice offered.  They then withdrew from the meeting.

039/17 Minutes of Last Meeting (May 2017):

The minutes were proposed to be accepted as a true record by Mrs G Evans, the proposal was seconded by Cllr. S Fisher and agreed by all.  The minutes were signed by the chairperson.

040/17.  Matters Arising from previous Meeting:

Village Greens – Port Eynon. Council agreed to proceed with quotation provided by Eaton Fencing in the amount of £1200.

War Memorial – pending source of suitable stone.

Casual Signs at A4118 Junction, Scurlage – Cllr R Fisher advised that the presence of casual signs continued to pose a problem.

041/17.  Finance:

Clerk advised that there had been no significant transactions in the past month.

1. Cash reserve approx.. £10,400. Savings reserve approx.. £5,300.

The following funding commitments are carried forward:

Bench seat at Orchard Close – £500

Scurlage Green Improvements – £2,000

Port Eynon Village Green improvements – £2,000.

042/17 Planning

Clerk provided an update on pending applications as follows

Pending Applications

2017/0350 Orchard Green, Knelston – Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of new detached dwelling house and garage. Council noted that the present bungalow was thought to be of precast construction dating back to post war period. It was agreed that the proposal should be recommended for approval. Decision pending.

2017/0470 The Tors, Knelston – Erection of new detached dwelling house and garage. Council noted that the proposed house was within the curtilage of the existing gardens to ‘The Tors’ and would share the access to ‘The Tors’ and Knelston Hall Farm. Scale of development was appropriate and consistent with adjacent existing properties. Council unanimously recommended application be approved. Application approved by C&CS on 19^th May.

2017/0485 Bank Farm, Knelston – Erection of Marquee and maximum of 125 units of tents for period 9^th June 2017 to 11^th June 2017. Council note that this was an annual event and that no complaints or negative comments had been generated in previous years. Council unanimously recommended application be approved. Temporary permit granted on 16^th May 2017.

2017/0725 Gower Holiday Village, Scurlage – temporary use of field adjoining ‘The Monksland’ for use to site up to 64 touring caravans for the period 1^st June to 5^th September 2017. Council noted that this was a further application essentially the same as 2015/1657 which was refused on 2^nd October 2015. That decision was appealed and confirmed on 25^th July 2016. Council noted that this further application only differed from that made previously in that the layout of the pitches was restricted to approximately half of the field furthest from the road. Also, that reference is no longer made to this being an ‘Overspill Facility’. Council noted that although outline discussions had taken place with the applicant following the previous refusals, no communication had been received with respect to this new application. Council considered that the previous grounds made for recommending refusal still held, in that all necessary facilities and requirements of a self contained semi permanent caravan site must be met, and that no indications were given in this application. Council also noted the findings of the Planning Inspector in July 2016, and that these had not been addressed in this application. Council recommended by majority that the application be deferred pending clarification of the above issues. Application refused by C&CS on 31^st May 2017.

2017/0889 The Leys, Port Eynon – construction of detached garage. Council considered the application to be acceptable on the proviso that use is strictly limited to a garage.

New Applications

2017/0926 The Hawthorns, Scuralge – Two storey rear and side extension and enlarged access. Council expressed concern over the elevational treatment of the rear extension and unavoidable overlooking between the properties on either side of Monksland Road. Concern was also expressed that no opportunity had been taken to revise the vehicular access to Monksland Road, consistent with the recent adjacent developments. Council agreed by majority to recommend general approval with request for these issues to be addressed.

2017/1181 Dinglebank, Knelston – Three new detached houses and garages. Council expressed concerns with regard to:

• The present natural curtilage of the village is created by Trumpet Lane and this development is outside that curtilage.
• This is a ‘backland development’ and as such is contrary to current AONB planning guidelines.
• The development will be accessed via Trumpet Lane which is an unmade road of restricted width and with no end turning facility, such that. large service vehicles have to reverse to exit the lane.
• Trumpet Lane is already recognised as having a dangerous junction with the A4118, being below the brow of a hill and immediately opposite the access to a farm complex.
• The development will create a dominant feature on the skyline when viewed from the North and West.
• Current access to the hay meadow west of Dinglebank is eliminated by the development resulting in potential loss of substantial established agricultural land.

Council agreed by majority (3:1) to recommend that the development, as proposed, be rejected.

043/17 Highways & Footpaths.

Councillors expressed concerns over the speed of cars using the A4118 between Scurlage and Port Eynon. Vehicles were typically travelling at speeds in excess of 60 mph.. There was a distinct danger at this time of year that the grass verges were so overgrown that motorists were unable to see pedestrians, and pedestrians could not retreat onto the grass verge. Clerk to again raise with C&CS.

Concern was also expressed that the 30 mph zone was too limited and the zone should be extended for the A4118 on both sides of the village.

Council noted that work was currently being undertaken by South Gower Sports Club to improve the access off A4118.

Council noted that the condition of the road surface of Monksland Road was unacceptable and the road should be resurfaced.

Council also noted that a significant pothole had existed for some time at the junction of the access to Knelston Primary School.

044/17 Correspondence:

Letter received from Port Eynon Village Hall management Committee requesting Council to contribute to production costs of the village hall newsletter. Costs were stated to be £650 per annum and a contribution of ‘up to £500’ was requested. Council expressed concern over the unit cost and as to whether the present style of newsletter was sustainable. Clerk was requested to make enquiries as to production costs of magazines produced in other communities and level of funding provided by the respective Community Councils.

E-mail advice from C&CS of appointment of a ‘Destination Manager’ who held responsibility for the City’s blue flag beaches and supporting beach activity. Clerk had arranged for him to make a brief presentation at the July Council meeting.

045/17 Communication- Notice Boards etc.

There was nothing to report.

046/17 Village Halls –

Port Eynon Hall –Cllr Evans reported that he had attended the last meeting of the VHMC on behalf of Cllr R Fisher. He Council that the meeting had largely considered routine ‘housekeeping’ issues. It was noted that the Secretary had resigned. Also noted that plans for a new hall had suffered a setback with the change of Member of parliament for Gower. A two month financial review was presented to the meeting.

Llandewi Hall – Clerk reported receipt of reply from the Trustees and an informal meeting would be arranged.

General – discussion took place over the need for modern community facilities, the location of which reflected the changing demographic of the community. Clerk was requested to produce a short policy note for further discussion.

036/17 Any Other Business:

Cllr G Jones drew attention to the litter problem in Port Eynon car park.

Date of Next Meeting:

Monday 23^rd  July 2017 at 7:30 pm  in the  Port Eynon Village Hall.

Meeting closed at 9.40pm.                                                         Chairman

 

1. J. Stubbings, (Clerk)                                                              R. Fisher

\